A house from the Viking period found on Munkebo Hill

05. August 2015 | Vikingemuseum Ladby

During Week 22 (May 25 - 31), the Museums of Eastern Funen carried out a test excavation on the top of Munkebo Hill, because one of the museum’s metal detector enthusiasts had found Arabian dirhems (silver coins from the Viking period) on the site.

The archaeological excavation revealed traces of at least one house from the Viking period, with a fence or a ditch around it. The excavation was carried out in close cooperation with a group of detector operators, who made sure that the rest of the silver treasure hoard (of which the coins were a part) got found. Until further investigation, we can only guess at the find; perhaps it was a silversmith’s supply of metal that turned up in the soil of Funen. It is certain, though, that no matter who lived in the Viking-era house (which was probably part of a farm), the residents had a fabulous view from the top of the hill, and could keep track of movements both on land and on sea.

The museum is now working on plans to excavate the remains of the house, and from the end of June, the finds from the dig, including the Ribe coin that was the find of the month in May, will be on display in Ladby.